Businesswoman Helen Bhagwansingh has passed away.

The Bhagwansingh’s Founder and Chairperson died early this morning at the age of 83.

Bhagwansingh’s Group of Companies says funeral arrangements will soon be announced by the family.

Bhagwansingh’s Hardware, Dansteel Limited, Bhagwansingh’s Superstore Limited and Centrin Limited will be closed today.

Fondly known as “Mrs B”, she was inducted into the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s Business Hall of Fame in 2010 and granted the Order of the Republic of T&T in 2011.

She was conferred an Honorary Doctorate at the UWI St Augustine in 2011.

The Chamber’s bio for Mrs Bhagwansingh states that she was in charge of the bicycle repair department of her father’s business, Ramoutarsingh’s Hardware, until she married Hubert Bhagwansingh in 1959.

She then ran the Drive-In Cinema in Valsayn for eight years before it was sold, and she returned to Ramoutarsingh’s Hardware to fill in for a sick employee.

The Chamber said that over the next two years, the Bhagwansingh’s turned the location at Sea Lots into a thriving outlet for Ramoutarsingh’s.

The business was then acquired from her father and carried on under the designation of Bhagwansingh’s Hardware which saw two more stores in Chaguanas and Marabella opened in 1988 and 1995.

Hubert died in 2019 at age 84.

Among those expressing condolences so far is MP for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally who said, “I’m very sorry to hear about the passing of Helen Bhagwansingh, a prominent and respected businesswoman in our community. Her contributions and legacy in the business world will be remembered and celebrated for years to come. My thoughts and condolences go out to her family and friends during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.”

MP for Princes Town Barry Padarath added, “Condolences to the Bhagwansingh’s and Ramoutarsingh’s on the passing of the iconic Mrs. Helen Bhagwansingh. A business magnate but also a humanitarian, recently we shared a few light moments with this remarkable daughter of our soil. Our country is surely poorer with this loss. In 2011 Mrs. Bhagwansingh was conferred with our nation’s highest honour the Order of TT.”

MP for D’Abadie/O’Meara Lisa Morris-Julian said, “Helen Bhagwansingh was a woman of compassion and steely determination. May she rest in perfect peace. Condolences to her family and her employees.”

MP for Cumuto/Manzanilla Dr Rai Ragbir noted, “In addition to her business achievements, I honour Mrs. Bhagwansingh for her invaluable benefaction of the local medical research and health sector, through the establishment of the “Diabetes Education, Research and Prevention Trust” at the UWI, St Augustine Campus.”

TRADE MINISTER: BHAGWANSINGH’S DEATH A LOSS TO THE BUSINESS & NATIONAL COMMUNITY

Mrs Helen Bhagwansingh has left an indelible mark on the national community, according to Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon.

In a statement following Mrs Bhagwansingh’s passing, the Minister said the businesses of the Bhagwansingh’s group have contributed significantly to growth and development in the commercial and manufacturing sectors.

Mrs Gopee-Scoon also commended Mrs Bhagwansingh’s corporate social responsibility over the years, including her contributions to diabetes education, research and prevention.

(Photo credit: The UWI St Augustine)